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Regulating and supervising gambling

Gambling

The responsibility for controlling, inspecting and regulating gaming operations and practices in Portugal lies with the Comissão de Jogos (Gambling Commission) and the Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos (Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service – SRIJ).

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service (Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos ​– SRIJ), although it is part of the organic structure of Turismo de Portugal, I.P., is a service with technical and functional autonomy and the powers of public authority.

It therefore has powers to control, inspect and regulate the operation and practice of games of chance in casinos and bingo halls (land-based gambling​), as well as games of chance, sports betting on a fee basis and equestrian, mutual and fixed-odds betting, when practised remotely, through electronic, computer, telematics and interactive media or by any other means (online games and betting). 

With regard to the operation and practice of land-based gambling and betting, which legal framework is enshrined in Decree-Law No. 422/89 of 2 December and Decree-Law No. 31/2011 of 4 March, it is responsible for the control, inspection and regulation of the following games:  
_ Games of chance in casinos, such as Baccarat punto banco, French Bank, Blackjack/21, Poker, American Roulette, French Roulette and Slot Machines, among others
_ Bingo, which can be played both in casinos and in bingo halls not connected to casinos.

Within the scope of the operation of online gambling and betting, which legal framework is enshrined in Decree-Law No. 66/2015 of 29 April, SRIJ is responsible for the control, inspection and regulation of the following categories of games and betting: 
_ Sports betting with odds
_ Horse racing with pool betting and fixed odds
_ Games of chance.​​

SRIJ is also responsible for:
_ The liquidation and collection of the special gaming tax (IEJ) and the special online gaming tax (IEJO), sums that are subsequently distributed to various bodies and entities and used to invest in the promotion and development of tourism, in areas such as: health, sports, culture, social protection, among others. A specific percentage is included in the General State Budget
_ The supervision of the rules regarding the advertising of games and betting, as well as the filing and instruction of the respective administrative offence proceedings
_ To initiate and examine administrative proceedings and administrative offence proceedings for breach of the rules provided for in the legal systems governing the operation and practice of land-based and online games and betting
_ To develop administrative cooperation mechanisms with authorities and other bodies, at national and international level
_ To support technically and collaborate with police authorities, namely with the Public Security Police (PSP - Polícia de Segurança Pública), the National Republican Guard (GNR - Guarda Nacional Republicana), the Judicial Police (PJ - Polícia Judiciária) and the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE - Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica​), in matters of prevention and punishment of illicit practices related to territorial-based games of fortune or chance.

  • Gambling Regulation and Inspection Service​
  • Turismo de Portugal
  • Gambling
  • Online gambling and betting
  • Responsible gambling
  • Concessionaires
  • Casinos
  • Bingo halls
  • Player protection
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